Mapusa (GOA): Henri Arnaud hit a brace in Churchill Brothers’ impressive 3-1 victory over Pailan Arrows in an I-League clash here on Wednesday.
After a barren first session, Prathamesh Maulingkar gave Pailan Arrows a stunning lead in the 57th minute but within the next eight minutes, Pailan Arrows crumbled in the face of sustained onslaught from the opposition.
Gabonese striker Henri scored two goals in three minutes and then Israil Gurung added his name to the score-sheet as the hosts won the second match on the trot at Duler’s artificial turf.
The win helped Churchill take the sole lead with 31 points from 13 matches, three points clear of Pune FC who lost on the same day against Prayag United, while Pailan Arrows were stuck in eighth spot with 14 points from as many matches.
Prayag won 2-0 at home through goals from Lalkamal Bhowmick in the 68th minute and Ranti Martins in the 85th. The Kolkata team remain in sixth place.
Earlier in the day, United Sikkim secured a draw at home in Gangtok against Mumbai FC.
While Yusif Yakubu gave Mumbai the lead in the 11th minute, Nadong Bhutia leveled the scores four minutes later and Sikkim striker Lineker Machado earned the lead just one minute later. The visitors, however, equalised through Yakubu in the last minute.
Mumbai are in fifth place, with Sikkim 13th. (Agencies)
